World watch

April 07, 2013|By Larry Habegger and Laurie Weed, Special to Tribune Newspapers

Costa Rica: The U.S. Embassy in San Jose warned Americans to take precautions because of a sudden increase in tourist robberies in Puerto Viejo, including three U.S. citizens in the last few weeks. The southeastern coastal town is popular with surfers, kayakers and travelers on their way to Panama. Tourists can limit their risk by not wearing or carrying valuables openly and not walking alone at night or in isolated areas.

Great Britain: A recent environmental report has declared half of Britain's beaches unsafe for swimming because of high levels of bacteria and viruses in the water. Health risks include upper respiratory infections and gastroenteritis. Of the 754 beaches tested in late 2012, only 403 were recommended for swimming, a significant drop from the previous year. Last summer's heavy rains may be to blame, because flooding flushes sewage, urban runoff and agricultural waste into the sea. The tests showed beaches along England's northwestern and southwestern coasts with the worst pollution.

India: Female tourists are staying away from India in droves, a private industry survey reports, contradicting government claims that tourism has not been affected by the gang rape and murder of a young student in Delhi in December. That was followed by two more attacks on female travelers. The survey estimated that the number of female tourists visiting India has dropped 35 percent in the first three months of 2013, compared with the same period last year. Tour operators in the survey reported fewer bookings and more cancellations than usual, citing tourists' safety fears as a primary cause.

Myanmar (Burma): Communal violence between Buddhists and Muslims has spread across the Mandalay region in recent weeks and south toward Yangon, prompting the U.S. State Department to issue a travel warning. At least 43 people have died in the conflict so far, and tensions remain high. Americans are strongly advised to avoid all travel to the Mingalar Market/Yuzana Plaza area, east of Kandawgyi Lake in Yangon, as well as Bago Division and the following townships in the Mandalay region: Meikhtila, Wantwin, Ma Hlaing and Tharsi. A state of emergency has been declared in parts of the Mandalay region.

China: A new strain of avian influenza, or bird flu, has claimed two lives since mid-February, and as many as seven other people were reported affected. Health officials have confirmed that the illnesses were caused by H7N9 virus, the first time this strain has been known to infect humans. The victims all had upper respiratory symptoms that progressed to severe pneumonia and breathing difficulties. The exact source of the disease is still unknown. The low number of cases suggests that H7N9 is not highly contagious, but there is no vaccine. Visitors to China who experience flulike symptoms should seek medical advice. Since 2003, more than 600 people worldwide have been infected with the H5N1 strain, which has a fatality rate of about 60 percent.

Compiled from news services and travel sources. For updates, check with the State Department at 888-407-4747, travel.state.gov.